By Father James Chelich
The Entrustment of Ourselves and Our Community to Mary, the Mother of God Near the Cross of Jesus there stood his mother… Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, “there is your mother.” John 19:25-27 From his cross, Jesus entrusted Mary, his mother, to the beloved disciple. From the very beginning, our Catholic Faith has understood the beloved disciple to be not only Saint John, but the Church and each of us who are members of it. Jesus entrusted Mary to us as our Mother in the Faith. “Mary Said: I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to Thy Word. Luke 1:38 These words of Mary are rightfully the words of every disciple of Jesus. When they flow from the heart, they establish and create the bond of faith that links our life with God. Every Christian is called upon to entrust themselves to God in the pattern of these words and in the example of this woman. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there… At a certain point the wine ran out and Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” John 2:3 These words of Mary are her continuing prayer of intercession throughout time for any of Jesus’ disciples who “run out of wine” — the wine of commitment in relationship, the wine of faith in God, the wine of enthusiasm for the work God has given us to do. Heavenly Father, We entrust ourselves to the care and loving consideration of Mary, our Mother in the Faith. She inspires us to give ourselves totally to You, to Your Word and to Your Will. We entrust ourselves and our Community of Faith to Mary’s words of prayerful intercession before her son, Jesus: “They have no more wine.” Renew the wine of commitment in love, faith in God and enthusiasm in ministry in the heart of each member of Saint Thomas Parish.